By The Pulseline News Desk
Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda requested more than £4,000 in funds and allowances for former one of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons Yoshitha Rajapaksa to attend a naval training programme in the United Kingdom, the Colombo High Court was informed on Thursday (15), as evidence continued in a money laundering case against the former naval officer.
The testimony was given during the hearing of a case filed by the Attorney General against Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act over the purchase of five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga.
Testifying under the direction of Senior State Counsel Oswald Perera, Navy officer Dhammika Priyadarshana Wickramaarachchi has said that Rajapaksa served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy from December 14, 2006, to February 28, 2016.
According to official records presented through the witness, Rajapaksa had received a monthly salary of Rs. 16,500, from which Rs. 110 was deducted, leaving a net monthly payment of Rs. 16,390, inclusive of allowances.
The witness, who testified on behalf of former Navy Commander Admiral Travis Sinniah, has further stated that Karannagoda had written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence requesting financial assistance for Rajapaksa to participate in a young naval officers’ training programme in the UK.
The request had included £4,174.80 for accommodation and meals, in addition to Rs. 20,362 in course fees. The sterling amount was equivalent to approximately Rs. 1 million at the exchange rate prevailing at the time.
Navy earnings and asset declarations
Another Navy officer, Nuwan Thushara, has testified that Rajapaksa had received a total of Rs. 5,150,626 in salaries and allowances during his approximately 10 years of service in the Navy, from 2006 until February 2016.
The witness has explained that the total comprised his basic salary and allowances paid during his naval service.
Navy officer Devinda Udayakumara has also testified that Rajapaksa had submitted declarations of assets and liabilities to the Navy covering the period from March 31, 2009, to March 31, 2015.
Questions over Daisy Forrest estate records
Further evidence was presented by Senarath Bandara, a court clerk appearing on behalf of the Registrar of the Nugegoda District Court under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
His testimony was based on the original court file of a case heard before the Nugegoda District Court concerning property linked to Daisy Forrest.
The witness has said that an order issued on March 15, 2017, by then Nugegoda District Judge Sahan Mapa had appointed a third defendant to administer Forrest’s estate and named another individual as her guardian, on the basis that she was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, Bandara has testified that the order did not contain a note indicating that the court had been satisfied as to her medical condition.
He has further stated that, although an individual had been appointed to administer the estate, the court records contained no details of the estate’s assets, including any inventory of movable or immovable property or financial assets belonging to Forrest.
The evidence had formed part of the ongoing proceedings concerning the case against Rajapaksa over the acquisition of the five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana.
Following the hearing, Judge Ranatunga has fixed October 30 for the continuation of the trial and has directed the remaining prosecution witnesses to appear in court on that date.
Leave a comment